At eleven it had lightened considerably, and two fresh ships of the enemy had crawled up within gunshot. They were the Pomone and the Tenedos, heavy frigates. When within musket-shot the Pomone opened fire on the larboard bow, and the Tenedos swung across the President’s wake, taking a raking position on her quarter.
With a breaking heart the gallant Decatur saw that there was nothing for it but surrender. One-fifth of his crew had been killed or wounded, the ship was crippled aloft and leaking badly, and he hauled down his flag.
The joy of the English officers when they found who it was that had yielded to them was great, and it must be recorded that they did everything in their power to make it comfortable for the wounded, and that their treatment of the officers was courteous and kindly. For twenty-four hours after the action it fell a dead calm, and the crews of the squadron were kept occupied in repairing the crippled ships. As if to enforce the idea that the Endymion had not surrendered, Decatur was placed on board of her, a cabin prisoner.
THE “PRESIDENT” ENDEAVORING TO ESCAPE
On the 17th a tremendous gale came from the eastward, which played havoc with the late combatants, the President’s masts going by the board, and the Endymion losing her bowsprit, fore and main mast, and mizzen-topmast, being compelled to throw overboard all her upper-deck guns. It had been impossible for Decatur to ascertain the exact number of the killed and wounded, but he speaks of his great sorrow at the loss of three of his most trusted lieutenants—Babbit, Howell, and Hamilton, the last being the son of the late Secretary of the Navy. It was he who had had the honor of conveying the news of the capture of the Macedonian to Washington, and who had appeared, as we have recorded, at the ball given by Dolly Madison wrapped in the colors of the captured ship.
Decatur and his officers were given the freedom of the island of Bermuda, and crowds swarmed to visit the captured President as she lay decked with British flags in the harbor.
Captain Hays of the Majestic, to whom Decatur had surrendered his sword, returned it at once, and proved to be a friend who was worth the gaining.
Upon the investigation of the action Decatur was honorably exonerated, and Alexander Murray, the President of the Court of Inquiry, expressed himself in the following words:
“We consider the management of the President from the time the chase commenced until her surrender as the highest evidence of the experience, skill, and resources of her commander, and of the ability and seamanship of her officers and crew. We fear that we cannot express in a manner that will do justice to our feelings our admiration of the conduct of Commodore Decatur and of all under his command.... In this unequal conflict the enemy gained a ship, but the victory was ours.”